Top 10 Greatest Heat Defenders ranked by Defensive Box Plus/Minus (DPM)

4. Jimmy Butler - 1.7

When Jimmy Butler decided to take his talents to South Beach in 2020, many claimed he was chasing green and giving up on playing meaningful basketball games. Those doubters were wrong to the highest degree, as Butler led Miami to the Finals in his first season.

The defense was the driving factor in the Heat's Finals run, and Butler showed he was still the elite defender Bulls and 76ers fans got. Butler is one of those wings that sticks with you without fouling.

To this day, Butler still has more career steals than fouls (1316 to 1140). He gets his hands in the cookie jar in a multitude of ways. Butler can rip scorers on the drive or while dribbling aimlessly at the top of the key. He shows his brilliant basketball IQ in the passing lane by being two steps ahead and scoping out where the ball is going. 

Butler has a chance to cement his name in Heat glory this year with another deep playoff run. This may be the year he leads the Heat over the hump. Our next entry helped establish Heat Culture and was a part of the first title run in 2006.